? It will relieve the excessive overload of passengers at the existing four terminals and provide extra aircraft stands, relieving congestion on airfield.

? Without extra terminal capacity, Heathrow's position as No 1 European international gateway would be jeopardised.

? Tourism is worth £10 billion a year to the UK economy and depends on Heathrow "gateway".

? Terminal 5 would be the most effective way of meeting future travel needs of the South-East.

? It is key to meeting expectations of business community which demands high standard travel facilities.

? Problems caused by underinvestment in rail industry should not be repeated in aviation. BAA stands ready to invest £2.5 billion of private sector funds in national transport infrastructure, without a penny from the Government.

The case against T5

(Put by Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise)

? Too many aircraft movements - T5 will be the size of Gatwick. At the public inquiry, BAA predicted by 2013, 453,000 flights would use Heathrow with T5 in place. That figure was reached in July last year and final number could be much higher.

? T5 will increase sleep disruption and poor quality of life for one million people living under the flight path.

? Skies over London and South-East already the busiest in Europe. T5 increases risk of air disaster.

? Increased pollution as aircraft and extra traffic emit a range of pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, microscopic particles of soot that have been shown to be connected with an increased risk of premature death, and unburned hydrocarbons. The pollution map of the capital shows that the levels of both in the Heathrow area are already similar to those in central London.

? Worsening traffic congestion with 60 per cent of people still arriving at Heathrow by car when T5 is built.

? Sections of M25 will need to be widened to cater for T5 traffic. New spur road will also have to be built.

? Good quality of life high on list of factors business people consider important when deciding where to live. T5 will make London a less attractive, less "liveable" city.